Skip to main content

This pocket-sized contraption transforms old plastic bottles into tough plastic rope

For decades, the “reuse, reduce, recycle” mantra has taught us that the best way to dispose of plastic bottles is to toss them into a recycling bin — but French environmentalists Pavel and Ian think there’s a better way to do things. Instead of sending plastic bottles off to a recycling plant, why not figure out a way to ‘upcycle’ them and make something useful?

In an effort to encourage upcycling, the duo have created a brilliant pocket-sized bottle cutter that can turn any plastic bottle into a very strong, versatile rope. Aptly-called the “plastic bottle cutter,” this simple device, made out of a wooden handle, razor blade, and a cutting guide, can turn any type of plastic bottle into a long, thin strand of plastic, which turns out to be flexible enough to be used as a rope. To use the device, the bottom portion of the bottle must be cut off. Users will then insert the bottle into the slot and the tool will slice the rest of the bottle into the thin strand.

Recommended Videos

The long, thin strand of plastic can be used for just about anything — car towing, DIY arts and crafts, securing a torn hammock, and possibly surviving the end of the world. How sturdy is the rope? “For its thickness, it is very strong, only one bottle can be used to pull a car out of the ditch! It all depends on the bottle, but the tape of the ordinary Coca-Cola with a width of 4 mm can withstand a load of seven kg,” says the contraption’s website. For one of the tests, the plastic rope was left under the sun for about 2 years and it is still able to carry the load of soda.

The handy product already has $97,000 in pledges on its Kickstarter campaign, surpassing its $9,445 goal. With only $22, you can reserve one. The plastic bottle cutter will begin shipping this June.

Maria Mora
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Maria Mora is a creative, media professional fusing a background of audio production with editorial writing. Technology…
Aiper robotic pool cleaners and bundles on sale for Prime Day — up to $750 off
The Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max cordless robotic pool cleaner at the side of a swimming pool.

Keeping your swimming pool clean is tough work, but you can say goodbye to manual cleaning by taking advantage of Aiper's discounts on its robotic pool cleaners for Prime Day. Up to $800 in savings are up for grabs, and you'll get an additional 5% off these lowered prices by using the code DGTRENDS5OFF during the checkout process. We're going to say it — these Prime Day deals on Aiper robotic pool cleaners are simply amazing.

These offers are scheduled to last until Prime Day ends, but you shouldn't wait until the final minutes of the shopping holiday before you finalize your purchase. That's because there's no assurance that these Aiper robotic pool cleaners and the bundles featuring them will still be available by then. If any of these bargains catch your eye, we highly recommend proceeding with your transaction immediately to make sure that you pocket the savings — just don't forget that checkout code for the extra 5% discount!

Read more
Tineco carpet cleaner at lowest-ever price for Prime Day — here’s how to save more
A man using the Tineco Carpet One Cruiser Smart Carpet Cleaner.

Not all vacuum deals will be able to provide in-depth cleaning for your carpet. You're going to need something more specialized, and we highly recommend the Tineco Carpet One Cruiser. From its original price of $699, it's available from Amazon's Prime Day for its lowest-ever price of $489, but you can get an additional 5% off with the checkout code TIN25PDPR. That means you'll only have to pay $465 for this smart carpet cleaner, for total savings of $234, but you'll need to act fast as we're not sure if the stocks that are up for sale will last until the final minutes of the shopping holiday.

BUY NOW

Read more
Tineco vacuum nearly $300 off for Prime Day — use this code for extra savings
The Tineco Floor One Stretch S6 cordless vacuum cleaner cleaning a spill.

In one of the most attractive vacuum deals that you can shop for Prime Day, Amazon has slashed the Tineco Floor One Stretch S6 to its lowest-ever price of $319 from its sticker price of $599. However, we've got a code for you to be able to get the cordless wet-dry vacuum cleaner with an extra 5% off — just enter TIN25PDPR during the checkout process so that you'll only have to pay $303, for total savings of $296. That's an excellent offer that you wouldn't want to miss, and you better hurry if you want to take advantage of it as it may not remain available until the end of the shopping holiday.

$303 at Amazon

Read more